Abstract
The Annual Environmental Report 2009 for the Thornton Bank Wind Farm Phase 1 documents the first year of operational activities for six 5M wind turbine generators (WTGs) located 27 km offshore. Installed between January and May 2009, the wind farm represents the initial phase of a three-phase project targeting 54 total turbines by 2013.
Key environmental monitoring activities included:
- Hydrodynamic measurements
- Sedimentation and erosion surveys
- Cable route monitoring
- Bathymetric assessments
- No significant environmental impacts were detected during the initial operational year. Minor incidents involved dropped objects and fire suppression equipment, which were promptly addressed. The project maintained rigorous health, safety, and environmental standards with no injuries reported.